Debarking rotor having cushioned flails



Jan. 6, 1959 F. DILLINGHAM 2,857,252 DEBARKING RoToR HAVING CUSHIONED FLAILS v Filed Aug. 29, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 F. I .DILLINGHAM 2,857,252

DEBARKI 'G RoToR HAVING CUSHIONED FLAILS Filed Aug. 29, 1956 e sheets-sheet 2 Jig: 3

` INVENTOR EL, /Z L /NG/f//V BY f ATTORNEYj DEBARKING ROTOR HAVING CUSHIKONED FLAILS Filed Aug. 29, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EL.' BILLING/MM BYM www? ATTORNEYS' F. L. DILLINGHAM 2,867,252 DEBARKING RoToR HAVING cusHIoNED FLAILs Filed Aug. 29, 195e Jan. 6, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR f'. L. a/LL v6/MM ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1959 F. L. DILLINGHAM 2,867,252

DEBARKING ROTOR HAVING CUSHIONED FLAILS Filed Aug. 29, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY ,ed

. ATTORNEYS DEBARKING Roron HAVING CUsHloNED FLAILS FrederickLaurence Dillingham, Sylaeauga, Ala., assigner 1 to Soderhamn Machine Manufacturing Co., Talladega,

Aia., a corporation of Alabama Application August 29, 1956, Serial No. 606,883

Claims. (Cl. D14-208) The present invention relates broadly to the art of debarking logs and this application is a continuation-inpart of my prior filed application Serial No. 411,823, tiled February 23, 1954, now Patent No. 2,795,320, granted June 1l, 1957, and entitled Apparatus for Handling Cylindrical Objects.

Specifically, the present` invention relates to the barkremoving component of a debarking machine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a debarking machine which includes a bark-removing component of simple and inexpensive construction, and which is operative to remove the bark of logs with an absolute minimum loss of wood fibre.

lt is a further object to provide what can be termed a debarking means of flexible construction which includes a supporting head structure mounted for universal movement relative to a log being debarked. l

It is an additional object to provide an improved debarking-tool arrangement including removable and replaceable components facilitating repair and assembly of the bark-removing mechanism. l

lt is a still more specific object to provide a rotary bark-removing mechanism which includes flexible barkengaging-and-removing members in the form of chain links and a mounting structure supporting the links for rotary movement and which structure includes Wearresistant padding of rubber or the like material for minimizing wear and protecting adjacent metal parts against wear occasioned by impact action of other metal parts.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide a bark-removing tool mounting for ilail-type tools which is adaptable for removing bark from rough and irregularly shaped logs.

Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a debarking machine assembly including mechanism for manipulating the logs relative to the bark-removing components,

Figure'2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is an end view partly in section along lines 3-3 of Figure 4 illustrating an electrically driven debarking head and a carriage structure including fluidoperated position-adjusting means for the debarking head,v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the debarking mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 as seen from the rear thereof,

Figure 5 is an exploded fragmentary View of one form of the improved, rotary bark-removing components of this invention, certain parts being Abroken away and shown in section, and other parts beingomitted,

Figure 6 is 'a fragmentary, right-hand end view of the components of Figure 5 in assembled condition, but includes a portion of a rider bar that is not shown in Fig. 5, Figure 7 is a reduced-scale, fragmentary, left-hand `side elevation of the arrangement of Figu're6 as utilized nitedY States Patent in removing bark from a log, but omits two rows of barkremoving chains,

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of a rotary bark-removing tool structure, certain parts being omitted,

Figure Sa is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modification of a portion of Figure 8,

Figure 9 is a reduced-scale end view of the arrangement of Figure 8 but shows the parts assembled,

Figure 1 0 is a side view of the structure of Figure 9 as viewed from the left,

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary front elevation of the debarking head of the invention and. shows a guage for presetting the depths of bark-engaging and wood-engaging rider bars of the debarking head relative to a log to be debarked, and,

Figures 12 and 13 are views similar to Figures 6 and 5 respectively, but illustrate a Hail head that has been modified so that it can be used for debarking slabs.

The drawings illustrate the invention as specifically applied to the debarking machine embodied in my aboveidentified patent.

As set forth in said patent, Figure 1 illustrates a debarking machine that is electrically driven and which includes a first frame structure denoted broadly at 1 which supports the log-supporting-and-handling means and embodies the drive components therefor and a second frame structure denoted at 2 which is vertically disposed and extends longitudinally of the line of travelfof the log. The frame structure 2 includes an upper horizontal supporting rail 3, Figure 2, upon which a debarking mechanism denoted diagrammatically at B is longitudinally movable. The details of the debarking mechanism and the drive therefor and the means for traversing the same along rail 3 will be described hereinafter.

The logs to be debarked are fed from right to left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 by conventional uted roller or other type log conveyors, not shown. The logs then enter the sphere of action of the log-supporting-andhandling means of the invention which in the form illustrated includes plural pairs of supporting members 4, each pair including two substantially spheroidal ball elements each comprising substantially hemispherical portions 5. The elements 4 are approximately 18"'in diameter, in a practical construction, and spaced so that their centers are approximately 22 apart, so that two spherical elements 4 will cradle a log therebetween. The outer surfaces of the spheroidal elements 4 are uted or toothed to provide log gripping surfaces. .The teeth are approximately 3A in height, l wide at the base and the bases are spaced approximately 1/2 at the largest diy ameter of the hemispherical portion 5 but the spacing between the bases and the width of each base will decrease toward the axis of the ball element 4. This axis of rotation is horizontal and is provided by a shaft 6 which is supported by a yoke element 7.

As indicated in said patent, the ball halves not only rotate about horizontal axes but the yoke element 7 is supported by a vertical sleeve mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis. Within the sleeve and projecting therebeneath is a vertical shaft 15 having gear means on the upper end connected to gear means incorporated Within the ball halves for turning one of the same, the other ball half being connected to said one ball halfso that both rotate about a horizontal axis. This structure is described and claimed in said patent. On the lower end of the shaft 15 is a sprocket wheel 17 and a bevel gear 18. This arrangement is embodied with the ball members on the front half of the machine.

Patented Jan. 6, 1959` supporting sleeves have mounted thereon lever means 23 j and all of the lever means on each side of the longitudinal axis of the machine are coupled by links v24. The lever means at the infeed end of the machine are bellcrank levers 23'.

together by a link which is rocked by a piston 26 of These bell-crank levers are connected aannam zontal rail 3 forms a track which in etect includes vertically spaced rails for supporting a carriage 29. This carriage includes front and rear plates 29' and 29, a top set of flanged rollers 30, of which there are at least two, and a similarly arranged lower set of rollers 31 respectively engage the upper and lower tlanges of the horizontal rail and support the carriage for rolling movement. Secured to the rear plate 29" of the carriage 29 are spaced vertical guides 32. Slidably mounted for vertical movement between the guides is a slide 134 including upper and lower transverse braces 132 and 133 respectively connected to vertical components 134 of the slide 134. Adjacent the top of slide 134 and xed to the ahydraulic or other fluid-type motor 27. In the position illustrated in Figures l and 2, the balls or spheroidal supporting elements are shown adjusted in that position in which each shaft 6 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the'ma'chine from which it follows that a log snpported on the three illustrated sets of supporting rnernbers will only rotate about its own The drive relationship to the balls rotates the same counterclockwise as viewed from the right of Figures l and 2 so that a log supported thereon will rotateclockwise as viewed from that end of the machine. The drive for the ilail is such that the rotary shaft thereof. rotates counterclockl wise.

To feed a log forwardly, the yokes are turned 90 clockwise about a vertical axis from their positions on as set forth hereinafter, the balls rotate to feed a log` from right'to left in the drawings while turning it clockwise about its axis. The linkage connecting the yokes for simultaneous turning is further so designed that the axes of shafts 6 can be turned through an angle of 110 more or less to permit retrograde and rotary movement of logs as desired. Therefore, the cooperation of the debarking means, regardless of the type embodied on thecarriagerthat goes along the rail 3, Ywith the log to be debarked canbecorrelated 'by the selectivity of movevment of thedebarking means and the balls. For example, if jbark is particularly tenacious, the barking mechanism B can be heldstationary while the log is merely 'rotated on its'axisor the log can be stopped in a selected position lwith the debarking means stationary or movable along va stationary log if there is a longitudinal hollow therein. Injthe position 'shown yin Figure 2, it is assumed that kthe debarking mechanism has been traversed relative to the frame 1 from a stop 3 back to the righthand or infeed endand the log that has just been de` barked is then removed by actuating the hydraulic motor 2.7 to move the links 24 to rock the levers 23 and thus turn the yokes of each pair and the ball means sup- "ported thereby in unison to any desired position. The speed of advance of the 'log and the rotation of the log is determined by lthe angle through which theV yokes are turned and the speed 'of rotationof Vthe ball members.

Thus, as an example, `with balls of 1S" diameter, the

machinewill handle Alogs from 8 to 14 long with only two sets of balls assupporting elements at la feed speed :of for example l40 linear feet per minute. If the logs `are from 14 to 20' in length, three sets of balls may be "desirable, Thus, the sizeand number ofthe ball members may be correlated with the length and diameter of sthe log to be deb'arked., since logdiarneters of over 30 `or more may require larger spherical Vsupport elements [and stronger drives and 'frame components. l The horizontal frame l'includes a series of cross struts 11' which provide an adequate support for Aeach vertical lshaft 15 and yoke-supporting sleeve 16. As illustrated `in'Figure l, these istruts are box-shaped girders.

One form of the debarking mechanism and its supports are better illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The h ori- 'the chain flals. Vpassed through clamps, not shown, carried in 'the head,

vertical components 134' thereof, are spaced supporting plates 37. Carried by the lower end of the slide is a platform 33 supporting an electric motor 34 for driving the debarking means. One or more anti-friction rollers 35 are mounted on the rear plate 29"l and engage inside the vertical harige of a lower rail l.36 to stabilize the carriage. two supporting plates -37 projecting from the rear face thereof. These supporting plates .37 are interconnected by a transverse web 38 and at their vupper portions'are provided with aligned apertures. A bracket element 39 is mounted on the outer face of each of the support plates and supports a pillow block 40 for journaling a shaft 41,. Within the apertures of the supporting plates 37 are fixed sleeve elements 42 which rotatably support boss members 43 carried by respective arms 44 of the frame of the debarking head for vertical tilting movement of the frame tovraise the head out of the path of an oncoming log', YThese arr'ns 44 are connected by cross webs 44 and their outer ends support a frame 45 which mounts a shield 46 and which supports the rotary debarking means for rocking movement about a pivot pin to accommodate lvariation lin lslope which may occur along the surface of a log. The underside of the frame 47 supports a rotatable horizont-'al shaft 47 'which carries a plurality of chain ail elements 48, Figurerl, which effect debarking action. A pair of vertically adjustable guard or rider bars 49 depend on opposite sides from Athe frame 45 to ride on the vsurface of the log being ydebarked and assure maximum efficiency of The rider bars 49 have their free ends and which clamps include lU-bolts 49 that can'be drawn tight by manipulation of` nuts 49" so that the clamps can be tightened or loosened top'ermit independent vertical adjustment of the respective rider bars; A chain or belt drive `Siliconnects the shaft 4 7 with a further horizontal shaft 51 driven by a belt 52 from a further pulley '53 carried by vthe shaft The shaft 41Y is driven by a belt VV54 from the motor 34. As pointed out the axis ofthe shaft 41 is the axis Vabout which the debarking head may tilt vertically. A fluid cylinder-andpiston motor 55 has its cylinder pivotally connected Vto the top of the horizontal brace 133 on the slide and its piston slidably received rin a `sleeve 55 which is pivotally connected to the underside of a cross brace 135 that extends between the arms 44. This sleeve 55 is 'movable through a cut-out portion or slot in the top horizontal brace 132 and a kstrip member 132V prevents the sleeve from becoming disassociated from the cross brace and also reinforces the brace. The uid motor 55 can swing the frame of the debarking head upwardly while ,the weight'of the head will cause the frame to swing down whenever fluid lis being released from the underside of therpistonfof the motor. This uid motor 55 functions` to raise the frame of the debarking head high enough toglevt a logpass thereunder. To raise and lower rthe debarking mechanism including its frame, to accommodate logs of different diameters a double-acting fluid vmotor yis connected between the vlower endo'f the `rear plate 29' of the carriage rand the under surface of 4.the horizontal brace 133. This motor is operative to The upper part of the 'slide 134 has the aannam adjust the vertical height of the slide and the debarking frame while the motor 55 is operable to raise the debarking frame relative to its initial vertically adjusted position. The tilting action effected by the motorv 55 will accommodate logs of from to 28" in diameter While the slide will permit adjustment of the head to accommodate logs of about 40 in combination with the rocking action.

In order to control the rocking movement of the frame 45, that accommodates the flail, about the shaft 45 a pair of transversely spaced lift lingers 200, only one being shown in Figure 3, are splined to a shaft 201 that is journaled Within a sleeve 202 which is Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the underside of the arms 44 to extend transversely thereof adjacent the inner end of frame 45. These lift ngers include a lifting nose underlying a transverse component 45" of the frame 45 and a rearwardly extending arm that is controlled by a piston 203 of a single-acting iluid motor 204 that is fastened to a plate 205 which in turn is fastened to the top of one of the arms 44. A very strong spring within the cylinder 204 acts to lift the piston 203 upwardly. This arrangement is such that when iiuid is admitted to cylinder 204 the piston 203 is projected to engage the rearwardly extending arm of one of the fingers 200 so as to rock the shaft 201 and thus engage the pair of lift fingers 200 against the underside of the frame 45 to hold shaft 47 horizontal when the ilail head is passing off the end of a log or being brought into engagement with the end of another log. A suitable foot-operatedvalve, not shown, provides the control of fluid to the cylinder 204. When the liails are debarking, iluid is not admitted to the cylinder 204 and the spring lifts the piston 203 upwardly allowing the lift lingers to tilt downwardly and thus permitting the frame 45 to rock about the shaft 45 to accommodate irregularities in log or bark contour. The rearwardly extending arms of lift fingers 200 engage stops, not shown, to limit the degree of rocking movement of the frame 45 about the shaft 45. It is to be pointed out that during debarking one guard 49 will ride on the bark and the opposite one will ride on the wood from which bark has been removed, thus, the guards are at diiferent vertically adjusted positions to accommodate for the thickness of the bark and maintain the axis of shaft 47 substantially horizontal. If a very large encumberance 0r projection strikes the guard during debarking so that the rocking action of head 45 alone is not suicient to clear this projection the head will pivot about'the shaft 41 since the loosely slidable connection between the sleeve 55 and the piston of motor 55 will accommodate this action. Thus, the lift lingers 200 limit the 'degree of rocking movement of the head 45 about the shaft 45; and the motor 204 constitutes a position lock for locking the frame 45 relative to the arms 44.

To traverse the debarking head, the invention provides a chain drive mechanism in the form illustrated in Figures l and 2. The chain is illustrated at 56 and passes over spaced sprocket wheels 57 and 58 provided in the opposite ends of the horizontal rail 3. The carriage 29 is connected to `the upper run of the chain, the lower run of which is guided by a supporting ledge 59. Plural lugs 60 extend along the side of the rail 3 and support the upper run of the chain. It is thus clear that movement of the chain in either direction will move the carriage 29 and thus the debarking mechanism. To drive the chain there is provided a reversible uid motor 61 having an output shaft carrying a sprocket 62 about which is trained a chain 63 connected to a further sprocket 64 mounted on a vertical upright part of the frame 2. An additional sprocket 65 is mounted for rotation with the sprocket 64 and a chain 66 passes over a further sprocket 67 which drives the sprocket 58 and thus the chain. This chain-and-sprocket drive is in effeet a speed-reducing gear arrangement, Any alternative reducing gear drive known in the art could be utilized in lieu of the chain-and-sprocket drive illustrated.

Adjacent the inlet end of the feed mechanismvis a control panel 68 which includes screenlike shield portions 69 to protect the operator. The controls are illustrated diagrammatically and embody mechanisms well known in the art of controlling the various operations. The panel is shown as including four switches 70, 71, 72 and 73 and live control levers 74, 75, 76, 77 and 79. The switch 70 and the control lever 74 control the motor 22 and thus the drive for rotating the ball members 5 about the shaft 6. The switch 71 and the control lever 75 control a pump combination 78 which supplies fluid for the hydraulic motor 27 that controls the indexing or positioning of the balls. The switch 72 and the control 76 control the motor 34 that drives the Hail. The switch 73 controls a further electric pump combination, not shown, which supplies uid for actuating the fluid motor 61 and controlling the uid motors 55 and 155 under control of the control elements 77 and 79 respectively. Obviously, other type control arrangements could be utilized, it being understood that the mechanism for rotating the balls and indexing the same constitutes a workable unit independent of any debarking action if it is desired to use the cooperation of the ball elements for manipulating elongated cylindrical objects other than logs. It is thus clear that the operator can move the debarking mechanism B along the rail 3 as required if the debarking action is such that the balls are adjusted to the position shown in Figure 1 and in eifect the log vwill rotate while the debarking. means traverses the same. The operator can control the vertical position of the actual debarking head, that is, the ail end of the carriage by controlling the fluid motors 55, 204 and and the controls for the motor 27 govern the positions of the link and lever system that effect the indexing of the ball elements.

It is clear therefore, that the afore-described structure provides a debarking-machine-head-and-carriage arrangement which can be traversed as a unit longitudinally of a log; that the head can Abe raised or lowered vertically, swung up or down about a horizontal axis toward or away from a log, and turn or rock about an axis perpendicular to the log axis; and that the rider bars can ybe independently adjusted as to their projection downwards from the head so that the rider bar on the left, as viewed from the front, is lower than the one on the right.

One form of the improved ail assembly is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. While for purposes of illustration debarking means havebeen illustrated in connectionvwith the machine `described in my patent, it is now pointed out that the debarking means are suitable for use on slab-barking machines of the type wherein a slab traverses a .debarking rotor at right angles to the axis of rotation thereof or at any other angle as might suit the fancy of the builder of a debarking machine, such type of rotor lbeing shown in Figures l2 and 13.

In Figure 5, there is illustrated a shaft 300, which corresponds to the shaft 47 of Figure 3. The shaft 300 is provided with lins or vanes 301, and in the form illustrated there are four such fins. The ns or vanes are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs. Each fin of one pair is provided with four inwardly extending U- shaped slots or notches 302 whereas the ns of the other pair of diametrically opposed vanes are provided with three similar slots or notches 303. The slots 303 alternate with the slots 302. Thus, there will be four chain units on each fin of one pair'of fins-301 and three chain units on each iin of the other pair of ins, the last-mentioned units being disposed between the respective chain units of the first-mentioned pair of ns. In order to mount the chainunits to each vane or fin on the shaft, a series of kapertures 304 are provided, one on each side 0f the slots 302 in one pair of tins and one on each side the nuts of fthe slots 303 in the otherv pair of Iins. Obviously, the apertures f 'one pairv of fins will be staggered'with relationjto the apertures in the other pair of tins. A rubber bushing 305 is inserted into each aperture to provide e'xibility 'for a locking bolt 313 that is associated therewith as hereinafter described. For each vane there are a series of clamping components which include a pair of padding 'strips 306 of rubber or like material, each strip having a series of apertures therethrough to aecommdate the locking bolts. The padding strips are applied against leading 'and trailing sides of each vane. To leading and trailing faces of each padding strip are associated metal clamping plates 307 and 1308 respectively. The metal clamping plate 30S has counters'u'nk apertures 309 extending therethrough and adjacent the apertures 309, the plate 308 has lugs or studs '310 lthat .extend outwardly from its trailing face. The lugs 310 are for cooperation with apertures A311 in a rubber bumper strip 312 which is 'thicker and wider than the .plate 30S. yThis strip 312 is reinforced in that area where the apertures 311 are formed "so as to minimize wear. The reinforcement can comprise canvas layers embedded in the rubber. A locking bolt 313 'which is associated with each vgroup of aligned apertures, has a head disposed in the respective couritersunk aperture 309 of the plate 308, and has a 'shank "that passes successively through the trailing rubber strip 306, the vane 301, the leading rubber strip 306,'and the leading metal plate 307, these plates and strips being' clamped tight against the vane by nut means 314, Figure 6. The chain units 315 include a pair or connected 'chain links 315 and 315" held captive by a t U-shaped bracket member 316. This U-shaped bracket lmember has outwardly directed lugs or extensions 317 on the free ends thereof. In assembling the arrangement,

each U-shaped bracket member 316 is looped through the shorter link 315 of the unit 315, and then inserted in the slots 302 so that the lugs 317 project beyond the leadingV face Vof the vane 301, the latter being -held in a horizontal position. The separate chain units are supported in the slots 302 by placing the metal plate 307 against the leading rubber strip 305, and then holding the latter against the leading face of the. vane 301 in such a way that the holes in these components are in alignment with the holes 304 in the vane. The rubber bushings 305 are then inserted in the holes 304 in the vane. Next, the trailing rubber strip 306 is placed on top of the trailing face of 'the vane, the metal plate 308 is placed Aon top of that strip 306, the bolts 313 are passed through 314 are -th'en applied lto the bolts 3.13 to tighten the componei'its together. Finally, Vthe rubber bumper strip 312 is ,placed over the lugs 310 .projecting from the trailing :face yof 4the `plate 4300 and fastened in place by placing washers i313 over the lugs 310, each washer 313 being secured in Vpositiorlpassing 'a cotter pin 319 through an aperture provided in each .of the lugs 310.

Since the Ipairs of tins have a staggered arrangement of holes and slots, the respective rubber'padding strips and metal clamping plates will lbe apertured accordingly. YOtherwise, the structure is the same as shown'in Figure 5. It is furtherto be pointed out that the metal plate 304i! has inwardly directed notches 320 -each of which `can ac- ;commodate the shorter link 315 of each pair of links,` in the event of rebound.

During 'debarking, the shaft`300 is rotated-ina direc-V ltion indicated by the arrows, Figures 6 and 7, and the the aligned holes in the components and the vane, and

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(l ll vweight yof the debarking head 45 is supported on the log by the adjustable rider bars 49, one on Yeach side ofthe debarking head. As previously indicated, the debarking trame is 'pivotally mounted for tilting movement about rthe shaft 41 and it further can.rock 'about an .axis x in the directions of the arrow y as the log behind deb'arked 1; demands, so as to maintain 'contactof the Vrider bars 49 ylwith the respective bark-covered and 'debarkedportions of` f the log.

During operation, centrifugal force developed byrotation of the shaft 300tends'to keepvthefchain links radially extendedrtrom the axis or" shaft 300. 'l`he.adhesion of the bark on a log being debarked Vis destroyed by the rotating chain links striking the log, .and due to the impacts thereof the bark is whipped fromxthe log. As the bark is removed from the log, the frame 45 is moved to the right along the log, while the latter rotates in the direction of the arrow shown lin Fig. 7, therider bars 49 supporting the weight of the bark-removing head. The left-hand rider bar 49 is riding on the bare wood and supports the left end of the head or frame 45 so vthat the outer links 315 just barely contact the wood. The righthand rider bar 49 supports the frame by riding lon top of the bark of the log, therefore this rider bar must be adjusted vertically above the other to the thickness ofthe bark to assure that the links 315" will just barely contact the wood surface of the log. The rubber bumper strip 312 is provided to constitute a cushion for 'theli'nks incase they should Contact Va -k-not or sub-'limb protruding from the log and tend to rebound against the plate Itis seen, therefore, that the opposite sides of the'vanes 305 are protected by the intermediate rubber padding strips. These same strips provide for a certain llexibility of movement for the U-shaped brackets 316 and the rubber bumper strip 312 protects and covers the exterior of the trailing metal plate 308. Thus, there is very Klittle metal-to-metal contact involved v in the mounting and securing of the chain units to the varies, with the result that the wear etect is reduced to an absolute minimum. `Further, the arrangement is such that should lthe chain links themselves become worn, which does occur in time, Vthe same can be readily replaced.

In Figures 8-10 is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement of ail assembly. In these figures the 'ailsupporting shaft is denoted at 321 :and the vane assembly vis a cast-steel body which includes ydiametrically opposed varies 322 having four slots 323 along their length and another pair of diametrically opposed vanes 322V having three inwardly extending U-shaped slots 323 distributed `along their length. For association with each vof the slots is a chain unit 324 comprised by'three interconnected lengths, only one .chain unit 324 'being illustrated. Each vanehas an aperture through that .portion thereof lying von each side of 'each slot .323 and a'rubber bushing 325 is mounted in each aperture. For association with lead- 'ing and trailing sides of each vane and to be clamped thereagainst are a pair of `rubber or similar material padding strips 326. Each padding strip has'a'series of boltaccommodating apertures y327 'distributed .therealong kfor alignment with the apertures containing the bushings 325 and a series of stud-accommodating apertures 323 for .cof yoperation with studs329 projecting from the trailing face of a leading metal clamping plate 330. There is a trailing vmetal clamping yplate 331 for arrangement on the trailing vside of each vane. The leading clamping plate .330 has yclamping-bClt-accommodating apertures 332 therein while the trailing clamping plate 331 has .similarly arranged apertures 333 therein, as well as hollow, internally threaded lugs 334 thereon which projectfrom the trailing race thereof. There area series of clamping bolts 335, onefor .each set vof apertures. The'bolt-accommodating apertures 333 in thetrailing plate. 331 are -countersunk so that the bolts 335, having flat heads thereon, can be drawn ushfagainst the trailing surface of the plate 331 by nut means 336.V A bumper or buffer strip 337 of rubber ior like material similar to the strip '312, is provided with a seriesofapertures 333` through which are passed locking screws 339 that are threadedly tures 328 in the rubber strips 326 likewise have a flat base so that when the various rubber strips and metal plates are assembled by being superimposed on the respective vanes 322, and an innermost link 324 of each chain unit 324 is engaged over the enlarged portion 329' of each of the lugs 329, the enlarged part 329' of each lug will be disposed through the apertures 328 in each pair of rubber strips 326, and the cylindrical outer portions of the lugs 329 will be disposed within apertures provided in the trailing metal plates 33E. The bolt 335 has sufcient length so as to pass through the assembled plates, strips and vanes and clamp the chain-link units 324 in place. The buffer strips 337 are then separately fastened to the trailing face of the plates 331.

As shown in Figure l0, the vanes 322 have four chainlink units 324 distributed therealong and staggered relative to the link units in the other pair of diametrically opposed vanes 322. It is clear that the mounting of the chain-link units 324 of the embodiment of Figures 8-10 is similar as regards the positioning of the rubber padding strips and metal plates on opposite sides of each vane, while the variation between this form of the invention and that of Figures -7 is principally directed to the individual chain units and the means of retaining the same in the slots. ln Figures 8-10 the chain-link-unitretaining means include the lugs 329 while in Figures 5 and 6 the U-shaped bracket members 316'have lugs 317 extending beyond the leading sides of the vanes 301 so as to fit behind the leading padding strips 306 and metal plates 397 to prevent outward disassociation of the chain units Sie" from the respective vanes.

Thus, in both forms of invention just described, there is provided a rotary bark-removing mechanism which includes a rotary shaft, a plurality of radially ydirected vanes, and associated with each vane and distributed along the length thereof, a plurality of chain units of interconnected chain links clamped in slots in the vanes by opposed pairs of mutually contacting rubber strips and metal plates. The rubber strip of each pair bears against the respective opposite surfaces of each vane, and as regards the trailing side of the vane in the direction of rotation of the shaft during debarking, there is an outer rubber buffer or padding strip fastened in place on the outer surface of the adjacent metal plate to serve as a padding in the event the flail chain units strike projections, such as limbs, knots or the like, during debarking and rebound toward the axis of rotation.

It is to be understood that while the two forms of invention illustrated include four radially directed vanes,

the number thereof can be varied so long as the vanes are arranged in opposed pairs and the slots and chain units accommodated therein are alternatelyarranged to minimize wear from impact of the components of the units against one another and to insure that during rotation of the respective vane-supporting shafts, the chain units are distributed along the length of the vanes in such relation as to obtain what might be termed a complete sweeping stroke against the bark to be removed from a log.

Furthermore, while the illustrated embodiments disclose four chain units distributed along one pair of vanes and three chain units distributed along the other, this disclosed arrangement is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, since the number of the chain units associated with the particular vanes can vary with the length of the ail assembly.

In a particular embodiment, the chain units are of alloy steel of 5/s chain. Here again, the size of the chain can be varied to suit requirements.

Figure ll diagrammatically .illustrates the adjustment of a debarking head relative to a log prior to use so that the rider bars 49 can be properly positioned. To obtain the best possible 4wear from the chain and ail parts, the rider bars must be adjusted properly. In order to facilitate this there is provided a gauge element 341 which has a 2716 pad 342 at one end and 5s pad 343 at the other. A log is supported on the ball members in at rest condition and in the barking position. The gauge is mounted on top of the log with the pad 342 on top and to the left as viewing the arrangement from the front. 'Ihe debarking head 45 is lowered until one of the rider bars engages one of the pads at the end of the gauge. The gauge of course has a length corresponding to the distance between the rider bars. Then the nuts 49" on the U-shaped bolts 49', Figure 3, are loosened so that the rider bar clamps are loosened whereupon the rider bars are adjusted up or down so that the chain on the flail head will just touch the upper surface of the gauge when the chain is fully extended, Figure ll. This is the maximum length at which the chains can be safely set and is for logs having very thick bark on the average. Logs with a medium-thick bark can be debarked with the righthand rider bar lowered a little from the maximum gauge setting illustrated, thereby raising the chain and preventing undue Wear on the chain links and also preventing roughing or furrowing of the wood surface during debarking. The U-shaped clamp bolts and rider-bar clamps are then tightened after adjustment of the rider bars. It is advisable to lubricate the clamp bolt threads and tighten the clamp nuts with special force so as to prevent the rider bars from creeping upwards in their clamps. If the rider bars wear flat on the respective wood and bark-engaging surfaces, it is necessary to again place the gauge under the worn spots and readjust the rider bars. Proper adjustment of the rider bars is very critical for 1/8 variance will make quite a difference in the wear of the chains.

The chain assembly does not have what can be ltermed a true flail action, but is considered to be a sweep. When the'ail is properly gauged relative to a log the chain units have a sweeping action and literally sweep the bark olf the log. If the chains beat the log then the adjustment of the rider bars is incorrect and must be altered. In the operation of the debarking machine, the operator should move the carriage so that the debarking head removes the bark in a continuous spiral slightly overlapping the cut into the bark. If the carriage ismoved stepwise so that it removes the bark in a series of bands around the log, the chain-will be worn and will rough up the bark portion of the log. The carriage must move from left to right while debarking andimust move in -a steady travel and not with a series of jerky start-and-stop motions. Such jerky motions will not only wear the chain and ail, but will set up unnecessary strain on the whole carriage-drive assembly.

It is further important to tighten the nuts such as 336 and 314 till the rubber strips are fully compressed. The bolts must not be overtightened since once they are drawn up the rubber plates will maintain pressure on the chain link units which are held captiverwithin the slots.

It is also to be pointed out that the connection or mounting of the rubber bumper strip 337 in the Figure 8 arrangement can be effected similarly to the mounting of the rubber bumper strip 312 as shown in Figure 6. Thus, instead ofthe hollow, internally threaded studs or lugs 334 on the metal plate 331, a modified form of trailing plate can be used, a trailing face of such plate being provided with outwardly extending solid projections 334 having cotter-pin-receiving apertures therethrough so that the rubber strip 337l can'be held in place by a washer and cotter pin, see Figure 8a.

Figures 12 and 13 disclose a modified chain-flail assembly utilized for slab debarking. Since slabs customarily include a flat side and an opposite arcuate side, the chain-nail assembly is moditied so that the chain links in rotation will be able to remove bark from a slab that is fed perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the flail assembly. In these figures the flail assembly embodies the same principal components of structure that are illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. 'Thus,'a flail carrying shaft 400 has four tins or vanes denoted at 401, each being of 'similar construction` and including reinforcing compoll nents or webs 492 at their opposite ends. Two of the ns 401, that arefdiametr-ically opposite one another lhave fourinwardly extending slots 493 while the other pair yof diametrically opposite v-iins have three slots 403. Each slot is shaped to include two side portions anda centrally positioned web 404. The ycontour of the iin 'in plan -is such that its outer redge 405 is concave; Of course, the depth of the slot from the router Vconcave edge l405 to its inner end must be such as to accommodate U-shaped brackets 406 having outturned ends 4436. Vlust as in the case of Figures 5 to 7 this modification includes, tor positioning on leading and trailing sides o't each tin, a pair of arcuately shaped and suitably apertured rubber strips 497 and a pair of metal holding yor clamping plates 498. The metal plates 408 on the trailing side of the vane.

401 has a plurality of lugs 499 extending rom the trailing face thereof. Rubber bushings -417 lare provided for insertion in holes '410 'in the tins and suitable bolt and nut means 411 and 412 respectively Va:e provided for .assembling the pair ot metal clamping plates 408 in superimposed relation to the pair of rubber strips 4497, the outturned ends 406 of the brackets 496 extending outwardly from the leading face of each iin, being equi- Adistantly spaced inwardly from vthe concave outer edge 405 of each tin, and being ,rubber strip 467 and metal clamping plate y408 on said leading face of the lin. A rubber bumper strip 413 is suitably apertured to tit over the lugs 409 and is secured to the trailing face of that clamping trailing side ofthe vane, by a washer 414 and a cotter pin 415.

With this arrangement, as in the case of Figures -7, 'the flail unit consisting of two interconnected chain links and the U-shaped bracket provides an economical and long-lived structure. Inasmuch as the outer links, that ,engage the bark during operation, wear more rapidly than the bracket replacement is readily effected by merely disassembling the various strips and plates on each side of the fin, and then reversing the two links so that the outer one which has worn the most rapidly is secured over the bracket. The parts are reassembled and when further operation has worn the outermost link, disassembly of the parts permits the replacementrwith another pair of interconnected links.

It isthus clear that, for all practical purposes thc only difference between this just described form of the *invention and that shown in Figure 5 is'the contour of the iin since in Vslab debarkers the shaft supporting the ail assembly is perpendicular to the line of movement to the slab, and therefore depending chain units mustL have their -lower edges terminate in an arc so as to remove bark from the arcuate portion of the slab.

` In debarking logs that are fed in a direction parallel rto the axis of rotation of the flail assembly, the outer v'ends of the chain units should be the same distance from t 'the center of rotation.

To summarize, the present invention provides, in a debarking machine of the type which includes a debarking head and vmanipulating means for a length of wood 'to be debarked and wherein there is relative traverse of the debarking head with respect to the length of wood while the latter is rotating, a rotary debarking mechanism including'a shaft having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the length of wood, a plurality `of diametrically opposed pairs of tins or vanes carried by the shaft, a series of chain units distributed along `each tin, and accommodated in notches therein. Each chain unit is short in that preferably only three linked `components are utilized. Resilient strips overlie each side-of each iin and each of the chain-supporting brackets witbin the notches, and clamping plates and a suitable lug means and fastening means are embodied with each `in lto hold vvtheV chain units in the notches and the strips and plates against the vtins. An additional Vrubber or other l resilient material bumper lstrip is mounted on the trailing disposed behind the assembled plate 498 on the face of that metal clamping plate which is on the trailing side of'each .of the ii-ns. Also, the linvention provides a bark-removing unit including a rotatable shaft, diametri-V cally opposed pairs -of fins Vor vanes extending axiallyvvof the shaft, and -a plurality of chain yunits distributed along each lin in mutually spaced relation, .the movement of chain units and the location .thereof on one iin being so related to the movement and location of the chain units on vthe next adjacent tin that the units Aon the lone iin move in planar -paths which are axially spaced from planar paths of movement of the units on the other iin.

Broadly, therefore, the invention provides a barkremoving mechanism of the flail type in which `the ail units are resiliently mounted to minimize Wear and in which a protecting padding is incorporated with the mechanism to reduce wear occasioned by any rebound action imparted to the chain units during debarking.

What is claimed is:

l. In a debarking machine, a bark-removing unit comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of opposed pairs of vanes extending axially along, and outwardly from, the shaft, a plurality of chain .units distributed along each vane, and means including strips of resilient padding material on each side of each vane and mounting the units on the vanes.

2. In a debarking machine as claimed in claim 1, Vand said last-mentioned means'including metal plates overlying each resilient strip and means clamping the metal plates and thus the -resilient strips to the vanes.

3. In adebarking machine as claimed in claim 2, and an additional strip of shock-absorbing-material overlying that metal plate on the 4trailing side of the Vane as re- -gards the :direction of `rotation of the shaft during debarking.

-4. In a debarking machine as claimed in claim 3, and each vane being lnotched inwardly from its edge to accommodate an innermost component of .each chain unit.

5. In a debarking `rnachine as-claimed in claim 4 -and the'notches in one vane being staggered in 4relation lto the notches in the Vnext adjacent vane. Y

6. A bark-removing .mechanism comprising a iframe adapted to Vbe positioned adjacent a length to be debarked, means for effecting relative movement of the ylength and frame past `one another, a rotatable shaft carried bythe frame, opposed pairs of vanes extending axially along, and outwardly from, the shaift, a plurality of chain units distributed along each vane, each runit including an end means and at least two interconnected links connected to the end means, means including resilient strips connecting the end means to the respective vanes, the number and location :of the chain units in adjacent vanes varying so that, during rotation of the shaft, the units of adjacent vanes revolve in different planar paths.

7. In a debarking machine, a rotary shaft, opposed Upairs of vanes Aextending axially along, and `outwardly from the shaft, each vane having inwardly extending notches therein, the notches in one vane being offset Vaxially of the shaft with `respect to the notches in the adjacent vane, a chain unit associated with each notch, each chain unit including an end means to be accommodated within the notch and at least two interconnected links supported exteriorly of the not-ch, a pair of resilient padding strips at least coextensive in length with the length of the vane and adapted Vto overlie the respective opposite sides of the vane and the Vend means accommodated within the notches, a pair of metal plates koverlying and engaging the respectivestrips of resilient material, means clamping the plates yand resilient strips to the vane, that metal plate on the trailing side of the vane as regards its direction of rotation having outwardly directed lug means extendingtherefrom, and a rubber padding strip overlying said trailing plate and mounted thereon bysaid ,lug means.y

8. In a debarking machine as claimed in claim 7, the

end means for each chain means comprising a U-shaped member looped through the adjacent link of the interconnected links and disposed in a notch, inner ends of the legs of the U being disposed adjacent the inner end of the notch, and lugs being provided on the inner ends of the legs of the U, said lugs being disposed behind the adjacent padding strip and metal plate so as to prevent outward disassociation of the chain units from the vanes.

9. In a debarking machine as claimed in claim 7, the end means for each chain unit including at least one chain link, one of the metal plates having outwardly directed lugs thereon extending through the notches, and said chain links being disposed over the lugs so as to prevent outward disassociation of the chain units from the vanes.

10. In a debarking machine as claimed in claim l, said unit being adapted to remove bark from slabs fed perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, said vanes having an arcuate outer edge, and the chain units having their outer ends when extended lying along a substantially arcuate line.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

